| REYNOLDSBURG,
Ohio - Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs and Governor
Ted Strickland recently honored three wineries with a director's
choice award for Ohio's best red, white, and specialty wines.
Firelands Winery of Sandusky, Ohio; Grand River Cellars of Thompson,
Ohio; and Henke Winery of Cincinnati, Ohio; comprised the director's
first-ever selections for the award.
"The Ohio wine
and grape industry is a rapidly growing industry that is an ideal
agricultural opportunity for farms of all types and sizes," Boggs
said. "This was evident in the award-winning wineries, representing
all corners of Ohio and in their wines, which embodied the soils of
our state."
The three wines
that won the director's choice awards are:
- Red:
Norton, Henke Winery
- White:
2006 Gew?rztraminer, Firelands Winery
- Specialty:
2005 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Grand River Cellars
Director Boggs,
also chair of the Ohio Grape Industries Committee, chose the three
wines during a blind taste-test of 41 wines eligible for the 2007
Quality Wine Assurance Program. Fifteen of these wineries were
showcased as Ohio's first-ever "Quality Wines" and recognized by
the director and Gov. Strickland during an event for retailers,
distributors, restaurateurs, and winery owners.
The Ohio Quality
Wine designation is assigned to wines made from at least 90 percent
Ohio-grown grapes. These wines must also achieve at least 15 of 20
points on a sensory evaluation and pass a chemical analysis before
receiving the Quality seal. European vinifera and American hybrid
grapes may be used to make all wine styles, and Labrusca, or native
grapes, may be used to make sherry or port.
The Ohio Quality
Wine Assurance Program is the first of its kind in the nation. By
focusing on wines made from Ohio grapes, the program will spur
expansion and renovation of Ohio's vineyards to meet the needs of
Ohio winemakers. The program provides wineries four judgings per year
to include all possible wine releases. Chemical analysis also sets
this quality program apart from others. The Ohio Grape Industries
Committee provides marketing materials to wineries to identify their
Quality Wines and to help consumers recognize these
"ground-to-the-glass" Ohio wines.
Pictured from left
to right: Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs,
Governor Ted Strickland, Joe Henke of Henke Winery and Ohio Department
of Agriculture Deputy Director Greg Hargett.
|
On
a gorgeous fall weekend, we visited four wineries on Pennsylvania's
Groundhog Trail. This is an extremely beautiful area and the autumn colors
were magnificent. On our trip we stopped by Evergreen Valley Vineyards,
Laurel Mountain Vineyard, The Winery at Wilcox and Flickerwood Wine
Cellars. We're in the process of writing all the reviews, so visit the
Breakfast in Cooksburg. A stay
at this historic B&B gives visitors a centralized location when
touring the Groundhog Wine Trail...not to mention a gorgeous view of the
Clarion River. The house sits right along the river at the entrance to
Cook Forest. The home was originally built by Andrew Cook, a prominent
figure in the area's logging industry. Eight guestrooms are offered along
with a large wrap-around porch, a cozy fireplace in the living room and a
wooded backyard with fire pit for chilly evenings. We enjoyed our
breakfast in the large dining room and were treated to fresh pineapple,
sweet rolls, a wonderful Quiche Lorraine and hot biscuits. Our hosts,
Denny and Barbara Kocher, were absolutely delightful. We could tell that
they truly love welcoming guests into their home and sharing all the
beauty and activities this area has to offer. Check out their 
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